1. Captain America
Once again, Brubaker's Cap is at the top of the list, even with Cap himself having been missing for most of the year. It is, I think, not quite as good as it was a year ago, mainly because it seems to be in a bit of a holding pattern at the moment, but it's still head and shoulders above anything else out there and it's still the first thing out of the Big Box O' Comics every month.
2. The entire Sinestro Corps event
This thing has been praised from one end of the internet to the other, and deservedly so. A good mix of adventure and character, plenty of cosmic stuff without the pretension that sort of thing usually comes with. And the promise of things to come that will be, at the least, interesting.
3. Irredeemable Ant-Man
It's over now, but I sure did love it while it lasted.
4. All-New Atom
Still one of the most reliably entertaining things I get every month. And I'm still hoping for a regular role somewhere in the DC universe for Ryan even after Ray makes his return.
5. Green Lantern Corps
I've really enjoyed this title this year, particularly the different characters and how they learn to work together. I had wondered, actually, how this series would work as time went on and the new recruits became seasoned veterans, but it looks like the Corps will be having enough new and interesting things to deal with soon that that shouldn't be a problem.
6. Justice Society of America
You'd think, considering that I have very little nostalgic attachment to the DC universe, that I wouldn't care too much for a book with such a tight connection to DC past. But I do. It helps that the book is consistently excellent, and it helps that this is where you find the older heroes. (I'm forty-five. I like seeing heroes who have passed their twenties, or thirties, or beyond. Now if they can just stop separating them out into just the one book...)
7. Cable and Deadpool
All because of Deadpool. Everybody loves Deadpool. Everybody around here, anyway.
8. Countdown
Yes, I know that Countdown is one of the more universally reviled titles around. But this isn't a list of good comics, it's a list of comics I've enjoyed, and I have very much enjoyed this series. Part, I'm sure, is that there are four or five of them in the box every month. How cool is that? But I'm enjoying a number of the storylines quite a bit, and I'm wanting to see what happens next, so I'm good.
9. Deadpool GLI Summer Fun Spectacular
A fun, mostly-lighthearted book featuring two of my favorite characters/teams in the Marvel universe. Not bad.
10. Moon Knight
A disturbing take on the superhero, always interesting, always unique. I hope the creative changeover doesn't take it too far away from what it has been so far.
Monday, December 31, 2007
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Again with the links?
20th Century Danny Boy has a nice piece up on the fate of many of the comic creators we older fans grew up with: Ageism and Discrimination in Comic Books, or...Whatever Happened to Frank Springer?
The Absorbascon has Anachronoslides, all about the problems associated with the sliding time scale used to mesh superheroes' pasts with the present.
Super Stupor, by R.K. Milholland (the guy who does Something Positive) has a neat take on the whole Women in Refrigerators thing. SP is one of my favorite web comics anyway, so I find it not at all surprising that he's so on-the-nose on this issue.
Also, not comic-related really, I'm going to try to do the Blog 365 challenge. All that is, is trying to blog every day for all of 2008. I started to try to do this anyway a few months back, mainly because I know how easy it is to get out of the habit, so if I can do that, why not try for a year? We'll see how it goes now that I'm actually telling people I'm making the effort.
The Absorbascon has Anachronoslides, all about the problems associated with the sliding time scale used to mesh superheroes' pasts with the present.
Super Stupor, by R.K. Milholland (the guy who does Something Positive) has a neat take on the whole Women in Refrigerators thing. SP is one of my favorite web comics anyway, so I find it not at all surprising that he's so on-the-nose on this issue.
Also, not comic-related really, I'm going to try to do the Blog 365 challenge. All that is, is trying to blog every day for all of 2008. I started to try to do this anyway a few months back, mainly because I know how easy it is to get out of the habit, so if I can do that, why not try for a year? We'll see how it goes now that I'm actually telling people I'm making the effort.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Holiday kid stuff
The thirteen-year-old let me read her holiday trades today--the two most recent Teen Titans volumes. She's thrilled with them, and they're certainly readable. There are definitely benefits to reading some books in trade form, although with Countdown I guess I already knew some of what was in there. She moved her Minimates into the Lego house she built for them.
The nine-year-old's Minimates now live in an old Fisher Price castle. It was that or the Hello Kitty house. I haven't read her Franklin Richards book yet, but she keeps showing me particularly funny bits so I may not need to.
As for my action figures, I'm told that they will be much happier when they get to move in with the others, where there's a pool table just their size. Right now they're sitting on the table next to me.
I've got one more comic-related gift on its way, indirectly from my brother. :)
The nine-year-old's Minimates now live in an old Fisher Price castle. It was that or the Hello Kitty house. I haven't read her Franklin Richards book yet, but she keeps showing me particularly funny bits so I may not need to.
As for my action figures, I'm told that they will be much happier when they get to move in with the others, where there's a pool table just their size. Right now they're sitting on the table next to me.
I've got one more comic-related gift on its way, indirectly from my brother. :)
Friday, December 28, 2007
Marvel Legends Action Figures: The Black Knight, Captain America, and Bucky
The Black Knight was here in time for Christmas, but the other two didn't arrive until today. I was almost ready to say that Hasbro seemed to be hitting its stride with regard to its figures, that this series seemed so much better than those that had gone before. But I'm not saying that quite yet.
I like the Black Knight figure a lot. He comes with a sword and shield that look great and make for some excellent poses. He himself is wonderfully posable. The articulation is less than it was--no hand or toe joints, but decent arm and leg motion and swivel wrists and ankles, a swivel waist (although not much capacity for bending at the waist either by waist or by hip) and a good deal of head motion considering the shoulder armor. Ths costume looks great, the helmet doesn't come off but also looks wonderful. He's just a great-looking, very playable figure that stands up easily on his own. Yes, the articulation is far less than it was with the original Marvel Legends figures, but I can't bring myself to mind that because he is just so awesome. I'm very happy with him.
I am likewise thrilled with the 40s-era Captain America figure. I was really torn about asking for him, since I already have a Cap, but that one is awfully hard to play with and this one looked so good in the pictures. And I'm glad I did get him. Again, considerably less articulation in this figure--no finger or toe action, for example--but very posable despite that. Good head motion, good arm and leg movement, swivel wrists, ankles and waist. The costume is wonderful--he has the pointy shield, of course, but also the skullcap headgear instead of the cowl. The scale mail is incredibly detailed. He stands well and is nicely posable. I have to say that I like him a lot better than I do the other Cap in the collection.
So I was about to say that it looks like Hasbro has found their way with regard to these figures, and that if what it took was a little less articulation to avoid seeing anything else like anorexic Emma Frost, that was fine with me. However, that was before I opened the Bucky figure.
The Bucky figure seems to use much of the same body mold as the Young Avengers' Patriot figure; if so, it looks much better on Eli. This figure is, well, scrawny and gangly, with a tiny head and sloped shoulders, and not athletic at all. Yes, he's supposed to be a kid, but he's also about as tall as the Cap figure, so the proportion is way off. (I suppose I'm disappointed, in part, because I figure this might be as close to a Winter Soldier figure as I ever get. :)) He doesn't look like the young boy of the Golden Age comics or the fit 16-year-old Brubaker suggests.
On the plus side, the costume isn't bad. And he's decently articulated, including toe and finger joints. He is reasonably posable and playable, although because the figure isn't all that attractive it's hard to find a pose that looks anything like what you'd see in the comics. Still, it's cool that they made him, and I suppose I should hope for the Original Torch and Toro to come out sometime!
I like the Black Knight figure a lot. He comes with a sword and shield that look great and make for some excellent poses. He himself is wonderfully posable. The articulation is less than it was--no hand or toe joints, but decent arm and leg motion and swivel wrists and ankles, a swivel waist (although not much capacity for bending at the waist either by waist or by hip) and a good deal of head motion considering the shoulder armor. Ths costume looks great, the helmet doesn't come off but also looks wonderful. He's just a great-looking, very playable figure that stands up easily on his own. Yes, the articulation is far less than it was with the original Marvel Legends figures, but I can't bring myself to mind that because he is just so awesome. I'm very happy with him.
I am likewise thrilled with the 40s-era Captain America figure. I was really torn about asking for him, since I already have a Cap, but that one is awfully hard to play with and this one looked so good in the pictures. And I'm glad I did get him. Again, considerably less articulation in this figure--no finger or toe action, for example--but very posable despite that. Good head motion, good arm and leg movement, swivel wrists, ankles and waist. The costume is wonderful--he has the pointy shield, of course, but also the skullcap headgear instead of the cowl. The scale mail is incredibly detailed. He stands well and is nicely posable. I have to say that I like him a lot better than I do the other Cap in the collection.
So I was about to say that it looks like Hasbro has found their way with regard to these figures, and that if what it took was a little less articulation to avoid seeing anything else like anorexic Emma Frost, that was fine with me. However, that was before I opened the Bucky figure.
The Bucky figure seems to use much of the same body mold as the Young Avengers' Patriot figure; if so, it looks much better on Eli. This figure is, well, scrawny and gangly, with a tiny head and sloped shoulders, and not athletic at all. Yes, he's supposed to be a kid, but he's also about as tall as the Cap figure, so the proportion is way off. (I suppose I'm disappointed, in part, because I figure this might be as close to a Winter Soldier figure as I ever get. :)) He doesn't look like the young boy of the Golden Age comics or the fit 16-year-old Brubaker suggests.
On the plus side, the costume isn't bad. And he's decently articulated, including toe and finger joints. He is reasonably posable and playable, although because the figure isn't all that attractive it's hard to find a pose that looks anything like what you'd see in the comics. Still, it's cool that they made him, and I suppose I should hope for the Original Torch and Toro to come out sometime!
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Infinite Crisis Action Figure: Donna Troy
I have to say, this figure was a bit of a disappointment. I was so pleased with the Power Girl from this series that I expected more.
The face and hair are great, as is usual for DC Direct figures, which usually suffer with regard to playability rather than appearance. And she's not a bad-looking figure by any means, just sort of...odd. Her legs are very thin, with no discernable muscle tone; I will grant that Donna isn't going to be Power Girl, but she makes a point of keeping in shape (as I recall from an old issue of Green Lantern where she was trying to convince Kyle to do likewise and not rely entirely on the ring). The torso is in one piece, which of course means the waist doesn't turn, but the back has an awfully uncomfortable-looking arch to it. In fact, when you stand her up--or try to, her stance doesn't really permit it--her natural pose seems to be with the chest and butt both stuck out somewhat.
As for playability, she's not so great, but that's all right, it's what I expected. The head turns only a bit because of the hair (a common problem with long-haired figures). The arms are quite posable. The legs are not, the bend slightly at the hip and knee, and the boots rotate.
All in all, I'm thinking this figure may have to stay out of the toy box. Not because of the playability issues (we're used to that), but because she just doesn't seem that sturdy.
The face and hair are great, as is usual for DC Direct figures, which usually suffer with regard to playability rather than appearance. And she's not a bad-looking figure by any means, just sort of...odd. Her legs are very thin, with no discernable muscle tone; I will grant that Donna isn't going to be Power Girl, but she makes a point of keeping in shape (as I recall from an old issue of Green Lantern where she was trying to convince Kyle to do likewise and not rely entirely on the ring). The torso is in one piece, which of course means the waist doesn't turn, but the back has an awfully uncomfortable-looking arch to it. In fact, when you stand her up--or try to, her stance doesn't really permit it--her natural pose seems to be with the chest and butt both stuck out somewhat.
As for playability, she's not so great, but that's all right, it's what I expected. The head turns only a bit because of the hair (a common problem with long-haired figures). The arms are quite posable. The legs are not, the bend slightly at the hip and knee, and the boots rotate.
All in all, I'm thinking this figure may have to stay out of the toy box. Not because of the playability issues (we're used to that), but because she just doesn't seem that sturdy.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Happy holidays!
A good Yule was had by all. Minimates and trade paperbacks for the kids, action figures for mom. :) And way too much food (and chocolate!) and not nearly enough sleep for any of us. I hope you've all had a wonderful whatever-holiday-you-celebrate!
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
New on my blogroll
I'm still recovering from the up-all-night Yule, so today you get to read other people's blogs...
The Horrors Of It All
Very cool blog focusing on the old (made before the code) horror comic books. Apparently this is some of what Wertham was talking about. Recent good stuff: The Weird Woman.
Kleefeld On Comics
Intelligent thoughts on various aspects of comicdom. Recent good stuff: Newspaper Strips Kill Comic Industry.
Pappy's Golden Age Comics Blogzine
I'm a sucker for Golden Age material, so this blog had me as soon as I saw the title. Recent good stuff: Shuddering.
The Horrors Of It All
Very cool blog focusing on the old (made before the code) horror comic books. Apparently this is some of what Wertham was talking about. Recent good stuff: The Weird Woman.
Kleefeld On Comics
Intelligent thoughts on various aspects of comicdom. Recent good stuff: Newspaper Strips Kill Comic Industry.
Pappy's Golden Age Comics Blogzine
I'm a sucker for Golden Age material, so this blog had me as soon as I saw the title. Recent good stuff: Shuddering.
Monday, December 24, 2007
Holiday fatigue links
Comic Coverage has a great piece up called Sidekicks Roasting on an Open Fire, about the various torture devices utilized by Golden Age villains.
Lots of non-comic-related discussion lately about the Nice Guy and why he isn't; commentary found here and here and here and here. Now, I have been away from dating for 20+ years (the husband and I met in college, and I never looked back) but it is disenheartening to see this. I don't think it's unforgiveable for a guy to be friends with a girl he is attracted to--plenty of good relationships started out as platonic friendships (the husband and me, for one). But I don't think that happens if the platonic friendship wasn't genuine--if the guy doesn't actually like the girl as a person--in the first place. Relationships aren't like math, they rely on factors other than cause and effect--that's the kind of thinking that gets Reed Richards in trouble, you know. (Okay, Reed's not that kind of a dick (just kind of not so good on the human relations thing, but he seems to be emotionally honest), but even the Illuminati never pulled that sort of passive-agressive crap. You know why? Because it's too evil.)
Comics Should Be Good has a piece up all about Fred Hembeck. When I was a teen, I loved Fred Hembeck, got anything I could find that he'd done. There's really never been anyone else who's been able to do his brand of good-natured comic-book humor, and I kind of miss it.
Lots of non-comic-related discussion lately about the Nice Guy and why he isn't; commentary found here and here and here and here. Now, I have been away from dating for 20+ years (the husband and I met in college, and I never looked back) but it is disenheartening to see this. I don't think it's unforgiveable for a guy to be friends with a girl he is attracted to--plenty of good relationships started out as platonic friendships (the husband and me, for one). But I don't think that happens if the platonic friendship wasn't genuine--if the guy doesn't actually like the girl as a person--in the first place. Relationships aren't like math, they rely on factors other than cause and effect--that's the kind of thinking that gets Reed Richards in trouble, you know. (Okay, Reed's not that kind of a dick (just kind of not so good on the human relations thing, but he seems to be emotionally honest), but even the Illuminati never pulled that sort of passive-agressive crap. You know why? Because it's too evil.)
Comics Should Be Good has a piece up all about Fred Hembeck. When I was a teen, I loved Fred Hembeck, got anything I could find that he'd done. There's really never been anyone else who's been able to do his brand of good-natured comic-book humor, and I kind of miss it.
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Qualities of a fan
I was reading this piece by the Ferrett about the ways in which fans (of whatever media or genre) differ from the majority of the people who enjoy that media or genre. It's not comic-specific, doesn't even discuss comics, but there's a lot in there that applies. For example, this:
I don't agree with the entirety of the article, but that first point? Yeah, that's me.
I like impossible-to-follow comic character histories (well, maybe not Donna Troy or Wolverine, there are limits, after all). I like having to know some history to get the full benefit of the story--it makes the comic-reading experience richer. I like the old Legion of Superheroes showing up in JLA; I even like Val and Luornu-1 (Una) in Countdown. I like the obscure stuff, the difficult stuff. Lots of us do; certainly most of us who blog about comics do.
I'll grant that comics don't have the same sort of greater non-fan base as movies or television do. I'll also grant that comic readers probably are made up of fans to a greater degree than they were in the past--that there are not as many casual comic readers (folks who don't follow books or characters, who just pick up a comic now and then if they're in the mood) as there used to be.
It's got to be hell, being a writer or artist trying to please a group of people, most of whom have that sort of intense connection to your product, and few of whom want the same thing. Then again, possibly pleasing the fans has had something to do with reducing the product's appeal to anyone else? In a lot of cases, comics are really no longer accessible to anyone who doesn't already read comics. You often see people talking about how to get their friends into comics, what are the most non-fan-accessible books, because the average comic isn't really for someone who isn't willing to do the work of "learning the language." I think the comic world is more closed now than it was when I was a kid. Perhaps this is a result of declining interest among non-fans, perhaps it's a cause, I don't know. It's likely that this narrowing of the perceived audience contributes to the increasing amount of fan service (of various sorts) you see in books--and the more you cater to a specific group with things that no one else will "get," the smaller the potential audience becomes.
The thing is, if you're aiming at a smaller and smaller group, you're also creating a smaller and smaller group. More than likely, you end up losing more readers than you gain. Now, I love comic books, but I grew up with them, I've loved them for forty years. If I weren't already a fan, would I be inclined to start reading them tomorrow? I don't know.
Because that's where point two comes in, the part where you love them so much you don't notice the bad. I'm easily entertained, I know this. My disbelief is readily suspended. I'm pretty forgiving of all sorts of things when it comes to my entertainment. Particularly when I'm predisposed to enjoy something, as I am with superhero comic books. It's not that I don't do critical thinking, but I don't generally do it to my comic books while I'm reading them, at least not the first time through. It's not part of the fun.
[M]ost fans fall firmly into at least one of two camps:
The very thing that makes this item bad for most people is exactly what they love (overly-convoluted plotlines, unbelievable characters, endless tweedling and riffing on guitars), or;
They’re so in love with the good stuff that they’ll ignore all the bad stuff because OMG, CAN’T YOU SEE THE GOODNESS?
I don't agree with the entirety of the article, but that first point? Yeah, that's me.
I like impossible-to-follow comic character histories (well, maybe not Donna Troy or Wolverine, there are limits, after all). I like having to know some history to get the full benefit of the story--it makes the comic-reading experience richer. I like the old Legion of Superheroes showing up in JLA; I even like Val and Luornu-1 (Una) in Countdown. I like the obscure stuff, the difficult stuff. Lots of us do; certainly most of us who blog about comics do.
I'll grant that comics don't have the same sort of greater non-fan base as movies or television do. I'll also grant that comic readers probably are made up of fans to a greater degree than they were in the past--that there are not as many casual comic readers (folks who don't follow books or characters, who just pick up a comic now and then if they're in the mood) as there used to be.
It's got to be hell, being a writer or artist trying to please a group of people, most of whom have that sort of intense connection to your product, and few of whom want the same thing. Then again, possibly pleasing the fans has had something to do with reducing the product's appeal to anyone else? In a lot of cases, comics are really no longer accessible to anyone who doesn't already read comics. You often see people talking about how to get their friends into comics, what are the most non-fan-accessible books, because the average comic isn't really for someone who isn't willing to do the work of "learning the language." I think the comic world is more closed now than it was when I was a kid. Perhaps this is a result of declining interest among non-fans, perhaps it's a cause, I don't know. It's likely that this narrowing of the perceived audience contributes to the increasing amount of fan service (of various sorts) you see in books--and the more you cater to a specific group with things that no one else will "get," the smaller the potential audience becomes.
The thing is, if you're aiming at a smaller and smaller group, you're also creating a smaller and smaller group. More than likely, you end up losing more readers than you gain. Now, I love comic books, but I grew up with them, I've loved them for forty years. If I weren't already a fan, would I be inclined to start reading them tomorrow? I don't know.
Because that's where point two comes in, the part where you love them so much you don't notice the bad. I'm easily entertained, I know this. My disbelief is readily suspended. I'm pretty forgiving of all sorts of things when it comes to my entertainment. Particularly when I'm predisposed to enjoy something, as I am with superhero comic books. It's not that I don't do critical thinking, but I don't generally do it to my comic books while I'm reading them, at least not the first time through. It's not part of the fun.
Saturday, December 22, 2007
The new Ms. Marvel artist.
So according to the March Marvel solicitations, the new artist for Ms. Marvel is an Adriana Melo, whose name didn't ring a bell, so I did a little search. She is apparently known for Witchblade, which I'm not at all familiar with, but she also did that Tales of the Sinestro Corps Presents Parallax thing, the one with the beautifully-done (if a bit overmuscled) Kyle. So I think I'm okay with this.
Friday, December 21, 2007
Superficial thoughts on the New Cap promo [Spoilers, maybe?]
This ("One of these people will be the next Captain America") is up on the Marvel website now, promoting Captain America #34. It's an interesting group, with varying degrees of seems-likelihood.
But none of the candidates seem at all likely to want to take on the role (well, other than the Skull), other than perhaps under duress. SHIELD has WS now, there's some duress for you.
It does seem likely that WS is going to be the new Cap. I'd rather see someone else, and I hope that his run as Cap won't be long, but things do seem to be heading that way.
But none of the candidates seem at all likely to want to take on the role (well, other than the Skull), other than perhaps under duress. SHIELD has WS now, there's some duress for you.
It does seem likely that WS is going to be the new Cap. I'd rather see someone else, and I hope that his run as Cap won't be long, but things do seem to be heading that way.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
What I Want: The March Marvel Solicitations
All solicitations found here.
CAPTAIN AMERICA #36
THE SECOND ACT OF THE DEATH OF CAPTAIN AMERICA COMES TO ITS SHOCKING CONCLUSION!
The new Captain America fights the Red Skull's minions with Black Widow at his side and chaos erupting all around them! Meanwhile, Sharon Carter, still under the control of Dr. Faustus, makes a horrifying discovery about the next stage of the Skull's plans!
It'd take a lot to knock this one off the get list. It does look like the new Cap is probably Winter Soldier--the cover shows him with brown eyes (which removes Clint Barton from the list of possibles), which is a little disappointing because it seems too obvious, but until I see it I'll have faith that Brubaker can make it interesting. The whole "with Black Widow at his side" thing makes it pretty clear that Tony Stark doesn't really trust him as far as he can throw him, and I'm guessing she'll have him on as short a leash as she can manage. It's a nice cover, apart from the Shiny!!! Cap costume.
THE LAST DEFENDERS #1 (of 6)
At long last, the team book you've been waiting for! The return of the Defenders! (no trademark infringement here!) And look who's on the team: The mutant Colossus! The sensational She-Hulk! The unpredicatable Blazing Skull! An all-new lineup led by the enigmatic Nighthawk! Injected into the heart of the modern Marvel Universe, the Defenders have been reformed to serve a specific policital purpose...but is there a greater destiny in store for this crew? It's hi-octane superheroics mainlined right into your fanboy brain!
This could be cool--I used to like the old Defenders title, and certainly haven't seen Nighthawk used to good effect since then. I also enjoyed the Blazing Skull in the old New Invaders series. So this is on the list, I think.
MIGHTY AVENGERS #10
Iron Man and the Sentry are stuck in the past with none other than Doctor Doom. Any interaction with anything or anyone could jeopardize the future of the Marvel Universe! Can Tony Stark trust Victor Von Doom to help get them back to the present before the Sentry has a complete meltdown? Guest starring the Fantastic Four's ever-lovin' blue-eyed Thing!
MIGHTY AVENGERS #11
Get ready to see an Avengers/Doctor Doom knock-down drag-out! And we promise an ending you've never seen in the history of Doom! All this and the Secret Invasion is upon us! Marvel Comics says sayonara to longtime penciler Mark Bagley with this bombastic storyline!
Whoa, this can't be right--two issues of Mighty Avengers in one month? That book's not even a monthly, is it? Heh. Anyway, the story sounds pretty average but there are things that pique my interest, so we'll be getting these.
NEW AVENGERS #39
The Secret Invasion is here! Award-winning artist David Mack brings his amazing talent to NEW AVENGERS to illustrate a major story in the life of Echo! Have the Skrulls infiltrated the Avengers? Is Maya Lopez the only one with proof? Will she live to tell the tale? All this and a major Avengers hook up!
Well, I really don't care about Echo, but I generally like this book, so it's on the list.
MS. MARVEL #25
The record-setting 25th issue is here, and it's super-sized! Is Ms. Marvel on the front lines of the Secret Invasion... or is she part of the invasion?! Brian Reed (CAPTAIN MARVEL) welcomes new series artist Adriana Melo onboard as Ms. Marvel begins her third year of action and adventure!
The thing is, with any major character who is revealed to be a Skrull, there are going to be issues. (I'm assuming, actually, that Carol is not a long-term Skrull agent--mainly because of the cover--although I suppose she could still be impersonated by one in the short run.) I'd hate to lose any of Carol's characterization over the last few years because of "oh, that didn't happen because she was actually a Skrull then!"
MOON KNIGHT #16
“GOD AND COUNTRY,” PART 3
Killing someone who deserves it is easy. The alternative – it takes years of training, mountains of resolve. Moon Knight knows this fact intimately -- and he’s about to face his stiffest test. See, Carson Knowles knows a thing or two about self-restraint himself, but he’s just snapped. The genie is out of the bottle -- and it’s ugly. Enter: Black Spectre.
I'm still getting Moon Knight. Haven't seen a reason not to yet, it still holds my interest. Hopefully it will continue to do so by the time this issue comes out.
MYTHOS: CAPTAIN AMERICA
He may be dead, but now you can find out how the man became the legend! Mythos revisits Steve Rogers’ transformation from a weakling with a heart of steel to the Sentinel of Liberty! From the mind of Paul Jenkins’ and the stunning art of Paolo Rivera comes the origin of CAPTAIN AMERICA!
I'm considering this one, haven't decided for sure yet.
SHE-HULK #27
She-Hulk's quest to re-discover her inner hero takes her back to her old law firm and back to face Tony Stark when an innocent bystander from her previous mission finds himself wrongly accused for murder. Can she put the past behind her?
Okay, this looks decent, or at least potentially interesting. I'm looking forward to comparing Jen's "quest to re-discover her inner hero" with Carol's mission to become the best, at least as it's been covered in her own book. 'Tis the season for soul-searching, apparently.
YOUNG AVENGERS PRESENTS #3 (of 6)
Wiccan & Speed: THE LOST BOYS
You're Wiccan, the Young Avengers' resident warlock. Your mother is one of the most reviled, misunderstood mutants in history: Wanda Maximoff, A.K.A. the Scarlet Witch, who's been M.I.A. for months. Even though you've never met her, she's been haunting your dreams lately...With your super-fast twin brother Speed in tow, you set out to find her, unaware that someone else is looking for Wanda, as well. A demon with a mountain-sized grudge against the Scarlet Witch: Master Pandemonium! And guess what? If Pandemonium can't find Wanda to destroy her, he'll happily destroy...YOU!
Yep, getting this one too. Not particularly looking forward to seeing Master Pandemonium again, but it's the Young Avengers!
CAPTAIN AMERICA #36
THE SECOND ACT OF THE DEATH OF CAPTAIN AMERICA COMES TO ITS SHOCKING CONCLUSION!
The new Captain America fights the Red Skull's minions with Black Widow at his side and chaos erupting all around them! Meanwhile, Sharon Carter, still under the control of Dr. Faustus, makes a horrifying discovery about the next stage of the Skull's plans!
It'd take a lot to knock this one off the get list. It does look like the new Cap is probably Winter Soldier--the cover shows him with brown eyes (which removes Clint Barton from the list of possibles), which is a little disappointing because it seems too obvious, but until I see it I'll have faith that Brubaker can make it interesting. The whole "with Black Widow at his side" thing makes it pretty clear that Tony Stark doesn't really trust him as far as he can throw him, and I'm guessing she'll have him on as short a leash as she can manage. It's a nice cover, apart from the Shiny!!! Cap costume.
THE LAST DEFENDERS #1 (of 6)
At long last, the team book you've been waiting for! The return of the Defenders! (no trademark infringement here!) And look who's on the team: The mutant Colossus! The sensational She-Hulk! The unpredicatable Blazing Skull! An all-new lineup led by the enigmatic Nighthawk! Injected into the heart of the modern Marvel Universe, the Defenders have been reformed to serve a specific policital purpose...but is there a greater destiny in store for this crew? It's hi-octane superheroics mainlined right into your fanboy brain!
This could be cool--I used to like the old Defenders title, and certainly haven't seen Nighthawk used to good effect since then. I also enjoyed the Blazing Skull in the old New Invaders series. So this is on the list, I think.
MIGHTY AVENGERS #10
Iron Man and the Sentry are stuck in the past with none other than Doctor Doom. Any interaction with anything or anyone could jeopardize the future of the Marvel Universe! Can Tony Stark trust Victor Von Doom to help get them back to the present before the Sentry has a complete meltdown? Guest starring the Fantastic Four's ever-lovin' blue-eyed Thing!
MIGHTY AVENGERS #11
Get ready to see an Avengers/Doctor Doom knock-down drag-out! And we promise an ending you've never seen in the history of Doom! All this and the Secret Invasion is upon us! Marvel Comics says sayonara to longtime penciler Mark Bagley with this bombastic storyline!
Whoa, this can't be right--two issues of Mighty Avengers in one month? That book's not even a monthly, is it? Heh. Anyway, the story sounds pretty average but there are things that pique my interest, so we'll be getting these.
NEW AVENGERS #39
The Secret Invasion is here! Award-winning artist David Mack brings his amazing talent to NEW AVENGERS to illustrate a major story in the life of Echo! Have the Skrulls infiltrated the Avengers? Is Maya Lopez the only one with proof? Will she live to tell the tale? All this and a major Avengers hook up!
Well, I really don't care about Echo, but I generally like this book, so it's on the list.
MS. MARVEL #25
The record-setting 25th issue is here, and it's super-sized! Is Ms. Marvel on the front lines of the Secret Invasion... or is she part of the invasion?! Brian Reed (CAPTAIN MARVEL) welcomes new series artist Adriana Melo onboard as Ms. Marvel begins her third year of action and adventure!
The thing is, with any major character who is revealed to be a Skrull, there are going to be issues. (I'm assuming, actually, that Carol is not a long-term Skrull agent--mainly because of the cover--although I suppose she could still be impersonated by one in the short run.) I'd hate to lose any of Carol's characterization over the last few years because of "oh, that didn't happen because she was actually a Skrull then!"
MOON KNIGHT #16
“GOD AND COUNTRY,” PART 3
Killing someone who deserves it is easy. The alternative – it takes years of training, mountains of resolve. Moon Knight knows this fact intimately -- and he’s about to face his stiffest test. See, Carson Knowles knows a thing or two about self-restraint himself, but he’s just snapped. The genie is out of the bottle -- and it’s ugly. Enter: Black Spectre.
I'm still getting Moon Knight. Haven't seen a reason not to yet, it still holds my interest. Hopefully it will continue to do so by the time this issue comes out.
MYTHOS: CAPTAIN AMERICA
He may be dead, but now you can find out how the man became the legend! Mythos revisits Steve Rogers’ transformation from a weakling with a heart of steel to the Sentinel of Liberty! From the mind of Paul Jenkins’ and the stunning art of Paolo Rivera comes the origin of CAPTAIN AMERICA!
I'm considering this one, haven't decided for sure yet.
SHE-HULK #27
She-Hulk's quest to re-discover her inner hero takes her back to her old law firm and back to face Tony Stark when an innocent bystander from her previous mission finds himself wrongly accused for murder. Can she put the past behind her?
Okay, this looks decent, or at least potentially interesting. I'm looking forward to comparing Jen's "quest to re-discover her inner hero" with Carol's mission to become the best, at least as it's been covered in her own book. 'Tis the season for soul-searching, apparently.
YOUNG AVENGERS PRESENTS #3 (of 6)
Wiccan & Speed: THE LOST BOYS
You're Wiccan, the Young Avengers' resident warlock. Your mother is one of the most reviled, misunderstood mutants in history: Wanda Maximoff, A.K.A. the Scarlet Witch, who's been M.I.A. for months. Even though you've never met her, she's been haunting your dreams lately...With your super-fast twin brother Speed in tow, you set out to find her, unaware that someone else is looking for Wanda, as well. A demon with a mountain-sized grudge against the Scarlet Witch: Master Pandemonium! And guess what? If Pandemonium can't find Wanda to destroy her, he'll happily destroy...YOU!
Yep, getting this one too. Not particularly looking forward to seeing Master Pandemonium again, but it's the Young Avengers!
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
What I Want: The March DC Solicitations
All solicitations found here.
COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS #8-5
The Countdown ticks down as storylines converge and collide — a Great Disaster is clearly proving to be unavoidable!
I still like this title enough to keep getting it, but even if I didn't, I suspect the momentum (and hope, which springs eternal) would keep it on the list. My favorite storyline has been Trickster/Piper for most of the run, although I also enjoy the Challengers (more because I like the characters--I've even been researching Jason Todd on Wikipedia!--than because of the story itself), and Mary Marvel's story has been all right although at times it seems to be spinning its wheels.
BIRDS OF PREY #116
Lady Blackhawk has been compromised as an operative — which could leave Huntress stranded at sea! Plus, Oracle must deploy several magic-based operatives to Platinum Flats to subvert a new threat to the world’s computerized infrastructure!
Sounds like an issue with some Zinda in it, which is a plus as far as I'm concerned. Otherwise, I have been enjoying this book even after the creative change, possibly because it has remained fairly similar in tone.
GREEN LANTERN CORPS #22
Part 2 of CURSE of THE LOST LANTERNS written by HEROES scribe Chuck Kim continues to reveal the missing time between Parallax’s destruction of the Corps and its survivors struggle against the Manhunters and the coming threat of the Sinestro Corps as Boodikka ponders her future as one of the newly anointed Alpha Lanterns. Can her old allies trust her anymore, what secrets does she hold and why does it mean to Hal Jordan?
Sounds all right. That it's authored by someone who writes a television show I've never seen does nothing for me, but it could be good anyway.
WONDER WOMAN #18
Comics superstar Bernard Chang joins Gail Simone for a 2-part story that will take Wonder Woman to the furthest reaches of the galaxy, but not before the vicious alien race the Khund begin an assault on Earth! But before the invasion can begin, the relationship of Wonder Woman and Nemesis takes a defining turn.
Again, sounds all right. Also, wondering about that "defining turn"... I think that a lot of folks are uncomfortable with Diana having any sort of relationship because, on the whole, her relationships in the past have been so bad. (That and the "no one is good enough for her" thing.) To be perfectly honest I'm not all that clear on her history as it stands these days so I don't know what has and has not been done in that respect. I do have to say that it isn't an aspect of her life that I've missed at all, but that isn't to say that it couldn't be done well. Just that it hasn't been.
Going to wait for the trade:
Salvation Run. I had no interest whatsoever in this one, but it looks pretty good from what I've seen online so I'll probably pick it up.
Raven. Another mini, the thirteen-year-old will want this one. (I'll be getting her the Wonder Girl trade as well, I think.)
COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS #8-5
The Countdown ticks down as storylines converge and collide — a Great Disaster is clearly proving to be unavoidable!
I still like this title enough to keep getting it, but even if I didn't, I suspect the momentum (and hope, which springs eternal) would keep it on the list. My favorite storyline has been Trickster/Piper for most of the run, although I also enjoy the Challengers (more because I like the characters--I've even been researching Jason Todd on Wikipedia!--than because of the story itself), and Mary Marvel's story has been all right although at times it seems to be spinning its wheels.
BIRDS OF PREY #116
Lady Blackhawk has been compromised as an operative — which could leave Huntress stranded at sea! Plus, Oracle must deploy several magic-based operatives to Platinum Flats to subvert a new threat to the world’s computerized infrastructure!
Sounds like an issue with some Zinda in it, which is a plus as far as I'm concerned. Otherwise, I have been enjoying this book even after the creative change, possibly because it has remained fairly similar in tone.
GREEN LANTERN CORPS #22
Part 2 of CURSE of THE LOST LANTERNS written by HEROES scribe Chuck Kim continues to reveal the missing time between Parallax’s destruction of the Corps and its survivors struggle against the Manhunters and the coming threat of the Sinestro Corps as Boodikka ponders her future as one of the newly anointed Alpha Lanterns. Can her old allies trust her anymore, what secrets does she hold and why does it mean to Hal Jordan?
Sounds all right. That it's authored by someone who writes a television show I've never seen does nothing for me, but it could be good anyway.
WONDER WOMAN #18
Comics superstar Bernard Chang joins Gail Simone for a 2-part story that will take Wonder Woman to the furthest reaches of the galaxy, but not before the vicious alien race the Khund begin an assault on Earth! But before the invasion can begin, the relationship of Wonder Woman and Nemesis takes a defining turn.
Again, sounds all right. Also, wondering about that "defining turn"... I think that a lot of folks are uncomfortable with Diana having any sort of relationship because, on the whole, her relationships in the past have been so bad. (That and the "no one is good enough for her" thing.) To be perfectly honest I'm not all that clear on her history as it stands these days so I don't know what has and has not been done in that respect. I do have to say that it isn't an aspect of her life that I've missed at all, but that isn't to say that it couldn't be done well. Just that it hasn't been.
Going to wait for the trade:
Salvation Run. I had no interest whatsoever in this one, but it looks pretty good from what I've seen online so I'll probably pick it up.
Raven. Another mini, the thirteen-year-old will want this one. (I'll be getting her the Wonder Girl trade as well, I think.)
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
I just don't understand...
...why people bother with comic book movies when they could be reading comic books.*
A quote from me, taken from an actual conversation with the husband.
A quote from me, taken from an actual conversation with the husband.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Reason #1 why Captain America is a better mentor than Batman
Say you're a hapless Golden-Age sidekick, and the mission calls for crossdressing.
Batman will make you put on the dress:
while Cap will take that bullet for himself.
Not that he seems all that bothered by it...
Batman will make you put on the dress:
while Cap will take that bullet for himself.
Not that he seems all that bothered by it...
You can find more of the Batman story at Transgender Graphics and Fiction Archive. Neat site. Jimmy Olsen's got his own section.
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Comics I can count on.
Cable and Deadpool
Because it's funny! Other characters are funny, too, though, and few have Wade's appeal. Oh, I'm going to miss this one. I'm hoping hard that Deadpool finds a place to regularly appear and soon.
Captain America
Surprise, surprise.
Green Lantern Corps
I've enjoyed this book since before Sinestro Corps--the team aspect, the new recruit thing, the shifting focus between different sets of partners. While I'm looking forward to seeing lots of Guy and Kyle from now on, I'm hoping (and I can't believe I'm saying this) that it doesn't take too much attention away from folks like Natu and Isamot.
Justice Society of America
And yet I'm going to drop the monthly and start picking it up in trade form, what's up with that? Well, I like this book a lot, but it's a mellow sort of like. Which is fine, it's not a lesser like, just different. Good but not an edge-of-the-seater, and will likely read much better when read all at once in a sitting.
Because it's funny! Other characters are funny, too, though, and few have Wade's appeal. Oh, I'm going to miss this one. I'm hoping hard that Deadpool finds a place to regularly appear and soon.
Captain America
Surprise, surprise.
Green Lantern Corps
I've enjoyed this book since before Sinestro Corps--the team aspect, the new recruit thing, the shifting focus between different sets of partners. While I'm looking forward to seeing lots of Guy and Kyle from now on, I'm hoping (and I can't believe I'm saying this) that it doesn't take too much attention away from folks like Natu and Isamot.
Justice Society of America
And yet I'm going to drop the monthly and start picking it up in trade form, what's up with that? Well, I like this book a lot, but it's a mellow sort of like. Which is fine, it's not a lesser like, just different. Good but not an edge-of-the-seater, and will likely read much better when read all at once in a sitting.
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Creative differences
When I was a young kid, I barely looked at the credits on my comic books. Oh, I read them enough to know that Stan was Smilin' and Jack was Jumpin' or whatever they were doing that particular month, but straight credits without the personalization? No interest whatsoever. Why would I? From a seven-year-old's point of view, the comics were pretty much always the same regardless of who was making them--the good guys fought the bad guys, and you worried a little but knew they would win in the end even if it took a while sometimes. They always talked the same, pretty much, and they always looked the same, pretty much.
When I was an older kid, I started to notice the art, and could identify artists I particularly liked (George Perez, mainly, in those days, and later Jim Starlin or John Byrne) and be particularly pleased when they were on a book I read. I noticed the difference between, say, John Buscema and Carmine Infantino :). I still didn't notice a lot of difference between writers; although I recognized the names, and although I've always been a reader who focuses on the words far more than the images, it still seemed to me that a good comic writer was one who could tell stories without their work distracting from the final product--whose work would blend seamlessly with what had gone before. That a good writer was one whose writing didn't really stand out. (And it's certainly true that the artists I considered stand-outs did interfere with the flow of the story as I read, in the sense that I'd be reading along, see a particularly neat image of Iron Man's armor reflecting the light, think "whoa!" and stop to look at it.)
These days, of course, people know and can identify writers almost as well as they can artists. Fans are more discerning, know who's good with plots, who's good with dialogue, who's good with characterization. Part of this has to do with the older fan base, I'm sure. Part has to do with the internet, which provides opportunities for folks to learn a bit about this stuff--to put a name to the things that they sort of noticed anyway. (It also provides opportunities to lose one's individual voice, to have one's opinions beaten down by those who disagree, or to take on points of view really aren't one's own.)
I think a lot, though, has to do with it being far more acceptable now for a writer to put his or her individual stamp on a book. It's more acceptable for a book to change with a new writer.
Not that there isn't still a value placed on consistency. Certainly the fans object when an old favorite is given a creative makeover and significant changes result (think of Frenchie), but as far as smaller changes go, changes that are really just a matter of creative interpretation, that's different. A Bendis book is recognizably a Bendis book, and people may make jokes about it, but when you pick one up you know you're going to see characters who actually relate to each other in complex ways. Simone is also known for good relationships, as well as strong characters and a lot of humor.
Thirty years ago, would I have been able to identify particular characteristics of the writing of Roy Thomas or Jim Shooter? Probably not. Partly because, well, I was a kid, but partly I don't think there were as many acceptable writing styles within the industry as there are now. And I think there may have been a greater importance placed on things not changing too much between writers.
The result is that these days there are fans who follow writers just as others follow titles or characters. (I'm not sure when artist-followers started, but it was a while ago.) I'm not a writer-follower in the sense of reading everything by a given writer, but I'll admit that if I'm on the fence about a book, and notice that Ed Brubaker or Gail Simone is writing it, that'll probably push me into giving it a try. That's more than I ever did for any particular artist.
When I was an older kid, I started to notice the art, and could identify artists I particularly liked (George Perez, mainly, in those days, and later Jim Starlin or John Byrne) and be particularly pleased when they were on a book I read. I noticed the difference between, say, John Buscema and Carmine Infantino :). I still didn't notice a lot of difference between writers; although I recognized the names, and although I've always been a reader who focuses on the words far more than the images, it still seemed to me that a good comic writer was one who could tell stories without their work distracting from the final product--whose work would blend seamlessly with what had gone before. That a good writer was one whose writing didn't really stand out. (And it's certainly true that the artists I considered stand-outs did interfere with the flow of the story as I read, in the sense that I'd be reading along, see a particularly neat image of Iron Man's armor reflecting the light, think "whoa!" and stop to look at it.)
These days, of course, people know and can identify writers almost as well as they can artists. Fans are more discerning, know who's good with plots, who's good with dialogue, who's good with characterization. Part of this has to do with the older fan base, I'm sure. Part has to do with the internet, which provides opportunities for folks to learn a bit about this stuff--to put a name to the things that they sort of noticed anyway. (It also provides opportunities to lose one's individual voice, to have one's opinions beaten down by those who disagree, or to take on points of view really aren't one's own.)
I think a lot, though, has to do with it being far more acceptable now for a writer to put his or her individual stamp on a book. It's more acceptable for a book to change with a new writer.
Not that there isn't still a value placed on consistency. Certainly the fans object when an old favorite is given a creative makeover and significant changes result (think of Frenchie), but as far as smaller changes go, changes that are really just a matter of creative interpretation, that's different. A Bendis book is recognizably a Bendis book, and people may make jokes about it, but when you pick one up you know you're going to see characters who actually relate to each other in complex ways. Simone is also known for good relationships, as well as strong characters and a lot of humor.
Thirty years ago, would I have been able to identify particular characteristics of the writing of Roy Thomas or Jim Shooter? Probably not. Partly because, well, I was a kid, but partly I don't think there were as many acceptable writing styles within the industry as there are now. And I think there may have been a greater importance placed on things not changing too much between writers.
The result is that these days there are fans who follow writers just as others follow titles or characters. (I'm not sure when artist-followers started, but it was a while ago.) I'm not a writer-follower in the sense of reading everything by a given writer, but I'll admit that if I'm on the fence about a book, and notice that Ed Brubaker or Gail Simone is writing it, that'll probably push me into giving it a try. That's more than I ever did for any particular artist.
Friday, December 14, 2007
Minimates
This holiday season, both kids expressed a desire for Minimates. The thirteen-year-old has been getting them for years, and in fact objected slightly to her sister's request on the grounds that they'll get them mixed up and that the eight-year-old only wants them because she's not allowed to play with hers. Since the younger one didn't ask for any specific characters, just that she wanted Minimates, it's possible that she is right on that count.
I'll admit that these toys don't appeal to me a whole lot, but they do have a decent variety of characters. Every other one is a Batman variant, but still, a variety. The kids like that the parts are interchangeable--that you can put Emma Frost's hair on the Beast and so forth. And that they can make Lego houses for them to live in. The two-per-pack thing guarantees that you'll get someone you don't want, but that doesn't really seem to be a problem.
So tonight I'm scouring the net for these things, not writing about my comic habit. Wish me luck.
I'll admit that these toys don't appeal to me a whole lot, but they do have a decent variety of characters. Every other one is a Batman variant, but still, a variety. The kids like that the parts are interchangeable--that you can put Emma Frost's hair on the Beast and so forth. And that they can make Lego houses for them to live in. The two-per-pack thing guarantees that you'll get someone you don't want, but that doesn't really seem to be a problem.
So tonight I'm scouring the net for these things, not writing about my comic habit. Wish me luck.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Ms. Marvel #21 [Spoilers]
* Okay, first of all, not a big fan of the Brood. They don't appear all that often, but they still seem overused whenever I see them. So that doesn't make me look forward to the next issue too much.
* Poor Carol, apparently William is going to break up with her officially, or so I assume from "I don't want to do this on your voice mail." You know, it looked like something interesting was going to be done with his character at one point. I hope that's still so.
* I do, however, get a chuckle out of the role popular modern tech plays in Carol's life (but at least she doesn't answer her cell phone in the middle of a fight). Doesn't she have a blog, too?
* A title featuring a single character is always better with a strong supporting cast. Machine Man/Aaron Stack is one of the most recent additions, and a real scene-stealer. That said, I'm kind of curious as to why he wanted a LMD in the first place ("It was my signing bonus. The only reason I agreeed to this Lightning Storm nonsense in the first place.") Or possibly I don't want to know. Then again, I don't really know to what degree Aaron identifies as male.
* And speaking of the supporting cast, something interesting is up with Agent Sum! This, I do want to see how it plays out.
* I am really going to miss this artist. Lopresti draws some pretty, pretty people--he can even make Wonder Man look good. Pretty and competent.
* Poor Carol, apparently William is going to break up with her officially, or so I assume from "I don't want to do this on your voice mail." You know, it looked like something interesting was going to be done with his character at one point. I hope that's still so.
* I do, however, get a chuckle out of the role popular modern tech plays in Carol's life (but at least she doesn't answer her cell phone in the middle of a fight). Doesn't she have a blog, too?
* A title featuring a single character is always better with a strong supporting cast. Machine Man/Aaron Stack is one of the most recent additions, and a real scene-stealer. That said, I'm kind of curious as to why he wanted a LMD in the first place ("It was my signing bonus. The only reason I agreeed to this Lightning Storm nonsense in the first place.") Or possibly I don't want to know. Then again, I don't really know to what degree Aaron identifies as male.
* And speaking of the supporting cast, something interesting is up with Agent Sum! This, I do want to see how it plays out.
* I am really going to miss this artist. Lopresti draws some pretty, pretty people--he can even make Wonder Man look good. Pretty and competent.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Birds of Prey #112 [Spoilers]
This is easily my favorite issue of BoP in recent months, primarily because it features Zinda, who is one of my favorite Birds but who almost never gets much story. In this issue, Zinda skips the official Barda memorial service to remember Barda in her own way--involving a bar fight, a cross-country trip by taxi, and a Hal Jordan cameo appearance.
Zinda's woman-out-of-time characterization means that stories can be told about her that really can't about other heroes. (Speaking of that characterization, it's nice to see someone out of time who spends more time living in her new time than moping about the old one. I'm talking to you, Silver Age Captain America!) While Zinda has adapted well to the new life (and I don't know if that was always the case, or even how she managed to find her way into her future, but whenever I've seen her she's been right at home), she still has that 1940s thing going (by virtue of having been a Blackhawk) where she can get into a bar brawl as a stress-reliever, or become a little recreationally tipsy without someone wanting to stage an intervention. If Bogart could have done it, Zinda can do it. A character rooted in the modern era probably couldn't.
Fond as I am of the character, I wasn't sure that Zinda could carry an entire issue by herself, and was pleased to see that that was not a problem. We don't see a lot of her ordinarily--she spends most of her time dropping off and picking up--waiting in the car, basically--or swooping in to save the day with a neat rescue. Taking her out of that role here, we get to see a lot more of what she can do, and while she likely couldn't hold her own against most of the villains the Birds come up against (she's not that sort of superhero), she's more than a match for just about anyone else. The best thing about Zinda, though, is that she is generally such a light-hearted character, taking as much joy from her new life as she did from her old one, but she isn't stupid and she isn't superficial. Sometimes it seems like some comic writers equate "interesting" with "angst-ridden," and Zinda is proof that that doesn't have to be so.
A fun book. And IMO more genuinely touching than a lot of the other mentions I've seen of Barda's death.
Zinda's woman-out-of-time characterization means that stories can be told about her that really can't about other heroes. (Speaking of that characterization, it's nice to see someone out of time who spends more time living in her new time than moping about the old one. I'm talking to you, Silver Age Captain America!) While Zinda has adapted well to the new life (and I don't know if that was always the case, or even how she managed to find her way into her future, but whenever I've seen her she's been right at home), she still has that 1940s thing going (by virtue of having been a Blackhawk) where she can get into a bar brawl as a stress-reliever, or become a little recreationally tipsy without someone wanting to stage an intervention. If Bogart could have done it, Zinda can do it. A character rooted in the modern era probably couldn't.
Fond as I am of the character, I wasn't sure that Zinda could carry an entire issue by herself, and was pleased to see that that was not a problem. We don't see a lot of her ordinarily--she spends most of her time dropping off and picking up--waiting in the car, basically--or swooping in to save the day with a neat rescue. Taking her out of that role here, we get to see a lot more of what she can do, and while she likely couldn't hold her own against most of the villains the Birds come up against (she's not that sort of superhero), she's more than a match for just about anyone else. The best thing about Zinda, though, is that she is generally such a light-hearted character, taking as much joy from her new life as she did from her old one, but she isn't stupid and she isn't superficial. Sometimes it seems like some comic writers equate "interesting" with "angst-ridden," and Zinda is proof that that doesn't have to be so.
A fun book. And IMO more genuinely touching than a lot of the other mentions I've seen of Barda's death.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Never can say good-bye...
I saw some good advice from Sporadic Sequential about not buying comics you don't like anymore just because you loved them as a kid.
That's something that's been hard for me to get past, due to the large part that nostalgia plays in my love of comics. I can do it, but it usually takes something big to knock an old love off of the get list. Legion of Superheroes, for example, is gone because the characters now are actually different characters from those I grew up with. If DC were to start a book about those characters--some of whom we saw in recent issues of the Justice League's book--I'd add that immediately.
But other than that, hey, so much for feeling bad about dropping Iron Man or Fantastic Four. I'm free!
Okay, I still feel bad about dropping FF. (I'll pick it up again someday, I'm sure.) I'm working on it. The Richards/Storm/Grimm clan were such a major part of my childhood that letting go of them is difficult.
And, you know, if the real Tony Stark ever comes back, I'm open to reading about him again as well.
In other words, I don't really say "good-bye" very well. It's easier when it's "see you later!"
That's something that's been hard for me to get past, due to the large part that nostalgia plays in my love of comics. I can do it, but it usually takes something big to knock an old love off of the get list. Legion of Superheroes, for example, is gone because the characters now are actually different characters from those I grew up with. If DC were to start a book about those characters--some of whom we saw in recent issues of the Justice League's book--I'd add that immediately.
But other than that, hey, so much for feeling bad about dropping Iron Man or Fantastic Four. I'm free!
Okay, I still feel bad about dropping FF. (I'll pick it up again someday, I'm sure.) I'm working on it. The Richards/Storm/Grimm clan were such a major part of my childhood that letting go of them is difficult.
And, you know, if the real Tony Stark ever comes back, I'm open to reading about him again as well.
In other words, I don't really say "good-bye" very well. It's easier when it's "see you later!"
Monday, December 10, 2007
I might add, but I won't replace
First, I read On rearranging the conditions of the test, at Tamora Pierce's blog, about how maybe it would be more useful for comic folks interested in good female characters to go somewhere other than Marvel and DC. I think this is aimed more at creators than at fans (and there's no chance I'll be writing any comic books, or having any interest in doing so! :)) but still had some interesting points for those of us on the receiving end.
Then, I read Give up all this? at Ragnell's blog, all about why feminist comic fans shouldn't have to stop reading mainstream comics and throw all our support behind independent creators. This is pretty close to my own feeling on the subject, other than I'm actually pretty happy, most of the time, with the comics I get right now.
And then I read On comic book feminism at Kalinara's blog, on mostly the same thing only with some examples of how things are changing, slowly but hopefully-surely, at the big two companies.
Anyway.
I'm a pretty big comic book fan. I love my comics, share them with my kids, buy an occasional action figure. My love of comics is rooted in my childhood and I maintain a strong preference for those titles and characters I grew up with, and although I've certainly added to the list since then, the new books tend to connect somehow to the old ones. So, am I likely to stop buying my Marvels? Nope. Doing that would eliminate not all, but a fair chunk of the reason I buy them at all, the long-term connection I feel to them.
And even without the nostalgia factor, I like the comics I buy, for the most part. While I recognize a lot of the...um, less enlightened?... stuff in comics now, I can't really think of a time when it's ruined a book for me. Maybe it's because I'm old and I expect less, remembering the vastly-underused heroines I grew up with. Maybe I'm extra-hard to offend. Maybe I'm a bad feminist (not as in "evil," as in "not very good at it"). Maybe I'm just not all that picky. So, at least at this point, I'm not going to leave for reasons of quality or philosophy because I'm okay with both. I might be okay-er with more change, but really, I'm good.
You know, though, like I said, I'm open to trying new things. (Within the confines of the comic budget, of course.) Someone starts a new company publishing superhero comics with a more feminist slant? I'd look at that, even check it out if it looked good. I can't honestly say that I'd like it better than what I read now. After all, there's the nostalgia factor to consider. But I'm potentially open to adding new comics to my get list. I guess I'll keep reading the reviews. :)
Then, I read Give up all this? at Ragnell's blog, all about why feminist comic fans shouldn't have to stop reading mainstream comics and throw all our support behind independent creators. This is pretty close to my own feeling on the subject, other than I'm actually pretty happy, most of the time, with the comics I get right now.
And then I read On comic book feminism at Kalinara's blog, on mostly the same thing only with some examples of how things are changing, slowly but hopefully-surely, at the big two companies.
Anyway.
I'm a pretty big comic book fan. I love my comics, share them with my kids, buy an occasional action figure. My love of comics is rooted in my childhood and I maintain a strong preference for those titles and characters I grew up with, and although I've certainly added to the list since then, the new books tend to connect somehow to the old ones. So, am I likely to stop buying my Marvels? Nope. Doing that would eliminate not all, but a fair chunk of the reason I buy them at all, the long-term connection I feel to them.
And even without the nostalgia factor, I like the comics I buy, for the most part. While I recognize a lot of the...um, less enlightened?... stuff in comics now, I can't really think of a time when it's ruined a book for me. Maybe it's because I'm old and I expect less, remembering the vastly-underused heroines I grew up with. Maybe I'm extra-hard to offend. Maybe I'm a bad feminist (not as in "evil," as in "not very good at it"). Maybe I'm just not all that picky. So, at least at this point, I'm not going to leave for reasons of quality or philosophy because I'm okay with both. I might be okay-er with more change, but really, I'm good.
You know, though, like I said, I'm open to trying new things. (Within the confines of the comic budget, of course.) Someone starts a new company publishing superhero comics with a more feminist slant? I'd look at that, even check it out if it looked good. I can't honestly say that I'd like it better than what I read now. After all, there's the nostalgia factor to consider. But I'm potentially open to adding new comics to my get list. I guess I'll keep reading the reviews. :)
Sunday, December 09, 2007
More fun with google search terms
Jason/Kyle donna fic
Probably inevitable, but there's none on my site. :)
spanking comics blogs
Now, do we really deserve that?
stop brain freeze from stealing are characters
Assuming that "are" is supposed to be "our," I'd call that an unfair accusation. I suppose it would explain the blog-spanking thing, though.
marvel legends winter soldier
You know, the number of times I've been found via this search string, I'm pretty sure this would sell well. I'd buy one, for sure.
SUPERGIRL SPANKING
Shouting doesn't make it any more likely to appear on my site... You know, I'm getting way more spanking-related search strings than I used to. It's weird.
frenchie is gay
I always thought Frenchie was gay
Topical, even! (And from different IPs yet!)
are heroclix fun?
Yeah, pretty much.
cool things made of iron
...Tony Stark? Maybe not so much these days.
"the cat" tpb greer
Oooh, I'd buy that!
"comics on being nice"
Really? Mostly mine feature a lot of punching.
Probably inevitable, but there's none on my site. :)
spanking comics blogs
Now, do we really deserve that?
stop brain freeze from stealing are characters
Assuming that "are" is supposed to be "our," I'd call that an unfair accusation. I suppose it would explain the blog-spanking thing, though.
marvel legends winter soldier
You know, the number of times I've been found via this search string, I'm pretty sure this would sell well. I'd buy one, for sure.
SUPERGIRL SPANKING
Shouting doesn't make it any more likely to appear on my site... You know, I'm getting way more spanking-related search strings than I used to. It's weird.
frenchie is gay
I always thought Frenchie was gay
Topical, even! (And from different IPs yet!)
are heroclix fun?
Yeah, pretty much.
cool things made of iron
...Tony Stark? Maybe not so much these days.
"the cat" tpb greer
Oooh, I'd buy that!
"comics on being nice"
Really? Mostly mine feature a lot of punching.
Saturday, December 08, 2007
This is a hoot!
This commentary on the art in the current JLA title at Everyday Is Like Wednesday is just about the funniest thing I've read all week. Loved it. :)
Friday, December 07, 2007
Captain America #32 [Spoilers]
As always, an excellent read. I've seen other reviews talking about how things seem to have been slowing down recently in this title, but I'm guessing that this is just set-up for the next more active sequence. I think it's inevitable, unless you're dealing strictly with stand-alone stories, that some issues will be more action-packed than others. I've lost no interest in this story, that's for sure.
I like Sharon's characterization thus far--somehow her internal struggle is made clear without the pages of angst and overkill you usually see in such cases. I also like how we're really not sure just how much control she has at this point--unlike Winter Soldier (who is still impulsive enough to take the shot at Faustus because it was there, rather than being willing to play along and wait for a better chance) she makes a real effort to conceal her mental processes from Faustus. In fact, I'm wondering now whether she has finally been able to break free to some extent--the last time you see her Faustus-created inner voice speak (the white-on-black caption boxes) is just before she tosses Winter Soldier out of the ship--she tells it to "Shut up" and it breaks off in mid-sentence. It doesn't show up again.
Black Widow and Falcon are, as usual, well done. Widow in particular is a joy to read.
Winter Soldier is as well; twice now he has gotten himself in perhaps more trouble than he should have because of his own impatience. It may be that this is situational; if he weren't so emotionally invested in this mission, he might be better able to look at things objectively--certainly when he was a Soviet agent he was able to keep his distance and wait for the moment. But maybe that's one of the differences between WS now and WS then? Maybe that's a skill (being able to keep personal concerns separate from the mission) he no longer has? I don't know. I do know that that sort of lack of control would be a liability in a Captain America.
Oh, and about Tony Stark, talking to the SHIELD scientist about the pregnancy test they found in Sharon's apartment, I had a thought. They are obviously looking at something to do with DNA on the screen, and the main screen in view appears to have info on Sharon's own DNA. The exchange between Stark and the scientist:
Now, what does that mean? Does "positive on both counts" just mean a positive pregnancy test and a positive ID on Sharon as the mom-to-be? Or are they able to tell who the father might be from the test? Seems a stretch, but then this is comic book science we're talking about here. IIRC from earlier issues in this run, SHIELD doesn't keep copies of Cap's DNA on file--when the Red Skull was killed, they had to bring him in personally to check against the body (because the Skull was in a Steve clone at the time). Of course that was Fury's SHIELD. Stark might well have the info.
So, the "positive" seems to refer to whatever seemed obvious but needed to be checked--but as for what that was, I guess we'll have to wait and see.
I like Sharon's characterization thus far--somehow her internal struggle is made clear without the pages of angst and overkill you usually see in such cases. I also like how we're really not sure just how much control she has at this point--unlike Winter Soldier (who is still impulsive enough to take the shot at Faustus because it was there, rather than being willing to play along and wait for a better chance) she makes a real effort to conceal her mental processes from Faustus. In fact, I'm wondering now whether she has finally been able to break free to some extent--the last time you see her Faustus-created inner voice speak (the white-on-black caption boxes) is just before she tosses Winter Soldier out of the ship--she tells it to "Shut up" and it breaks off in mid-sentence. It doesn't show up again.
Black Widow and Falcon are, as usual, well done. Widow in particular is a joy to read.
Winter Soldier is as well; twice now he has gotten himself in perhaps more trouble than he should have because of his own impatience. It may be that this is situational; if he weren't so emotionally invested in this mission, he might be better able to look at things objectively--certainly when he was a Soviet agent he was able to keep his distance and wait for the moment. But maybe that's one of the differences between WS now and WS then? Maybe that's a skill (being able to keep personal concerns separate from the mission) he no longer has? I don't know. I do know that that sort of lack of control would be a liability in a Captain America.
Oh, and about Tony Stark, talking to the SHIELD scientist about the pregnancy test they found in Sharon's apartment, I had a thought. They are obviously looking at something to do with DNA on the screen, and the main screen in view appears to have info on Sharon's own DNA. The exchange between Stark and the scientist:
Stark: You've double- and triple-checked the results, professor?
Prof: Of course, Director Stark. It's a positive on both counts. That pregnancy test was just what it looked like...and forensics comfirmed there were no fingerprints on it but Agent 13's.
Now, what does that mean? Does "positive on both counts" just mean a positive pregnancy test and a positive ID on Sharon as the mom-to-be? Or are they able to tell who the father might be from the test? Seems a stretch, but then this is comic book science we're talking about here. IIRC from earlier issues in this run, SHIELD doesn't keep copies of Cap's DNA on file--when the Red Skull was killed, they had to bring him in personally to check against the body (because the Skull was in a Steve clone at the time). Of course that was Fury's SHIELD. Stark might well have the info.
So, the "positive" seems to refer to whatever seemed obvious but needed to be checked--but as for what that was, I guess we'll have to wait and see.
Thursday, December 06, 2007
Ramblings about where to put my comic money
I was looking at some bulletin board somewhere today, and someone mentioned that they were trying to cut back on their DC comics so that they could apply more of their comic budget to independent titles. They were enjoying the books they were getting, but seemed to feel that they "should" read more of the independents.
I think this is interesting. It's another example of something you see occasionally, where comics produced by mainstream companies (which I guess means Marvel and DC), particularly superhero titles, are considered lesser than non-superhero titles produced by non-mainstream companies.
Part of this, I'm sure is the corporate vs. small-business thing. I can see that one, actually--I prefer to shop at small local stores myself when I can. Of course, "when I can" means "when I can get the product I want at each store." For example, if I'm going out grocery-shopping and I want fresh meat, I won't go to the local natural foods co-op because they don't carry it. Buying indies means supporting independent creators, which means supporting diversity and choice. All else being equal, that's a pretty good reason right there.
But a lot of it, I think, is that superhero comics are just lower on the pyramid of comic coolness than non-hero titles. (I am not sure when comics of any sort became cool. I always read them because I liked them. That's still the case. Of course, I've never had any illusions about being cool. :))
I like independent, non-superhero titles. I don't love them the way I love heroes, but I like them. I've read them in the past, but they're not a part of my usual comic reading. Some of this, I'm sure, has to do with living somewhere without a comic shop--I imagine if I went into town once a week to get my comics, to a store where I could actually see what I'd be buying ahead of time, or have something new catch my eye, I'd be more likely to pick up that something new. As it is, ordering them online, I tend not to.
A greater part probably has to do with money--like just about everyone else, my comic book budget is finite (and if yours isn't, I don't really want to hear about it), and I spend it where I am reasonably sure I'll like what I get. More expensive comics make readers less willing to try new things? Possibly in general, definitely in my own case.
Part is that I don't tend to seek out slice-of-life stories in any media, anyway (movies, novels, television)--I like mysteries, science fiction, horror, history. Well, I guess that's a personal limitation there, and it only keeps me away from some of the indies in any case. I occasionally watch a chick flick or a moving drama, but not often, and more likely if it was made before 1960 (Bette Davis and Barbara Stanwyck can make even the sappiest story palatable).
Part is that you really don't see superhero stories in other media, but you do see other sorts of stories there--there's less need to seek out mysteries and so forth outside of movies and novels.
Part is, yes, the nostalgia factor; maybe if I'd read Archie or Donald Duck as a kid, that'd be what I want now, but it wasn't and I don't.
And part is that, well, I just really like superhero stories. I don't think that this necessarily means that my taste is immature (although it might :))--I don't only read comic books, after all--but I don't think that I "should" read other things instead, or that I ought to replace my superhero titles with something more adult.
So if I had more access to different comic books, or more money in my comic budget, would I buy more independents? Maybe. With more money I'd probably start off buying more superhero titles, to be perfectly honest. But with more information, and the ability to flip through a book before deciding whether or not to buy it, yeah, I'd probably get a wider variety of comics. I do read reviews of independent titles. (Never would have known to get Action Philosophers without them, and that was a lot of fun.) I do like the comic medium, the whole word and picture thing.
However, I suspect that I'd be more likely to buy them as trades than as floppies. And I'd be more likely to buy them if they're ongoing titles featuring the same characters over a long period of time rather than single storylines--I like to become invested in my episodic fiction :).
So, in theory I'm open to new things. In actuality, probably not so much (due primarily but not entirely to practical matters).
I think this is interesting. It's another example of something you see occasionally, where comics produced by mainstream companies (which I guess means Marvel and DC), particularly superhero titles, are considered lesser than non-superhero titles produced by non-mainstream companies.
Part of this, I'm sure is the corporate vs. small-business thing. I can see that one, actually--I prefer to shop at small local stores myself when I can. Of course, "when I can" means "when I can get the product I want at each store." For example, if I'm going out grocery-shopping and I want fresh meat, I won't go to the local natural foods co-op because they don't carry it. Buying indies means supporting independent creators, which means supporting diversity and choice. All else being equal, that's a pretty good reason right there.
But a lot of it, I think, is that superhero comics are just lower on the pyramid of comic coolness than non-hero titles. (I am not sure when comics of any sort became cool. I always read them because I liked them. That's still the case. Of course, I've never had any illusions about being cool. :))
I like independent, non-superhero titles. I don't love them the way I love heroes, but I like them. I've read them in the past, but they're not a part of my usual comic reading. Some of this, I'm sure, has to do with living somewhere without a comic shop--I imagine if I went into town once a week to get my comics, to a store where I could actually see what I'd be buying ahead of time, or have something new catch my eye, I'd be more likely to pick up that something new. As it is, ordering them online, I tend not to.
A greater part probably has to do with money--like just about everyone else, my comic book budget is finite (and if yours isn't, I don't really want to hear about it), and I spend it where I am reasonably sure I'll like what I get. More expensive comics make readers less willing to try new things? Possibly in general, definitely in my own case.
Part is that I don't tend to seek out slice-of-life stories in any media, anyway (movies, novels, television)--I like mysteries, science fiction, horror, history. Well, I guess that's a personal limitation there, and it only keeps me away from some of the indies in any case. I occasionally watch a chick flick or a moving drama, but not often, and more likely if it was made before 1960 (Bette Davis and Barbara Stanwyck can make even the sappiest story palatable).
Part is that you really don't see superhero stories in other media, but you do see other sorts of stories there--there's less need to seek out mysteries and so forth outside of movies and novels.
Part is, yes, the nostalgia factor; maybe if I'd read Archie or Donald Duck as a kid, that'd be what I want now, but it wasn't and I don't.
And part is that, well, I just really like superhero stories. I don't think that this necessarily means that my taste is immature (although it might :))--I don't only read comic books, after all--but I don't think that I "should" read other things instead, or that I ought to replace my superhero titles with something more adult.
So if I had more access to different comic books, or more money in my comic budget, would I buy more independents? Maybe. With more money I'd probably start off buying more superhero titles, to be perfectly honest. But with more information, and the ability to flip through a book before deciding whether or not to buy it, yeah, I'd probably get a wider variety of comics. I do read reviews of independent titles. (Never would have known to get Action Philosophers without them, and that was a lot of fun.) I do like the comic medium, the whole word and picture thing.
However, I suspect that I'd be more likely to buy them as trades than as floppies. And I'd be more likely to buy them if they're ongoing titles featuring the same characters over a long period of time rather than single storylines--I like to become invested in my episodic fiction :).
So, in theory I'm open to new things. In actuality, probably not so much (due primarily but not entirely to practical matters).
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
A few recent links
This article at Dave's Long Box about the 1970s Tony Stark is one of the funniest things I've read all week. Seriously, I was laughing out loud, and the internet almost never makes me do that. Because this is also my absolute all-time favorite Iron Man era, and one that very much formed my understanding of the character. I guess that explains a lot. :)
Snap Judgments wants to know where you read your comics. Personally, these days I read mine in the recliner with the nice lamp. :)
I Draw Comics discusses Stan's Vs. Jack's Sue Storm in some detail--an interesting piece which will inspire me to get out my old comics and look for this sort of narrative discrepancy.
Snap Judgments wants to know where you read your comics. Personally, these days I read mine in the recliner with the nice lamp. :)
I Draw Comics discusses Stan's Vs. Jack's Sue Storm in some detail--an interesting piece which will inspire me to get out my old comics and look for this sort of narrative discrepancy.
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
More thoughts on the Spider-marriage
Occasional Superheroine has a thought-provoking post on marriage and heroism that...provoked some thoughts? :)
Actually, some of my thoughts were provoked less by the piece itself (which on the whole makes some good points) than by some of the commentary focusing on whether religion is necessary for ethical behavior, either on a personal or a cultural level. My own sense is that it is not--certainly there are atheists who use the concept of "there is no god!" to excuse bad behavior (I haven't seen it myself, not knowing that many atheists IRL, but I have no problem believing that it happens because some people are just like that :)), but there are religious people who manage to twist their religious convictions to do the same thing. Human beings are highly skilled at rationalizing what they do regardless of their worldview. Most religions promote good behavior, but so does simple observation of how the world works--for example, the concept of reciprocity (you tend to get what you give) is one that's easy enough to grasp.
But anyway.
I don't read any of the Spider-Man comics and don't intend to start, so all I'll ever know about this is what I read on the internet. I was sorry to hear about the potentially-impending end of the Spider-marriage, and particularly the circumstances surrounding it, which seem a bit of a stretch.
(To be honest, I've never really thought of Mephisto as a devil-analogue, although I know that's what he is supposed to be--to me, he's just a villain with some more-or-less theological associations. I don't think of comic book Thor as a real representation of god Thor, either. More important in most of the Mephisto stories I've read have been the literary associations--the deal-with-the-devil stories, the hero-as-Faust stories--that appear to be the maybe-basis for the upcoming Spider-story.)
As for why they're doing this (if indeed they are)... Maybe I've been lucky. I've never thought of marriage as work--I've found that if you like your spouse and you both genuinely care about what's best for each other, it's pretty easy to be married. In fact, before the kids came along, there really wasn't a lot of difference (other than living in the same house) between how my husband and I were as a dating couple and how we were as a married couple. So my impression is that the only real stories you can't tell about a married Peter that you could tell about a single Peter are pretty much the ones that involved his relationships with other women. Is that really that important?
Actually, some of my thoughts were provoked less by the piece itself (which on the whole makes some good points) than by some of the commentary focusing on whether religion is necessary for ethical behavior, either on a personal or a cultural level. My own sense is that it is not--certainly there are atheists who use the concept of "there is no god!" to excuse bad behavior (I haven't seen it myself, not knowing that many atheists IRL, but I have no problem believing that it happens because some people are just like that :)), but there are religious people who manage to twist their religious convictions to do the same thing. Human beings are highly skilled at rationalizing what they do regardless of their worldview. Most religions promote good behavior, but so does simple observation of how the world works--for example, the concept of reciprocity (you tend to get what you give) is one that's easy enough to grasp.
But anyway.
I don't read any of the Spider-Man comics and don't intend to start, so all I'll ever know about this is what I read on the internet. I was sorry to hear about the potentially-impending end of the Spider-marriage, and particularly the circumstances surrounding it, which seem a bit of a stretch.
(To be honest, I've never really thought of Mephisto as a devil-analogue, although I know that's what he is supposed to be--to me, he's just a villain with some more-or-less theological associations. I don't think of comic book Thor as a real representation of god Thor, either. More important in most of the Mephisto stories I've read have been the literary associations--the deal-with-the-devil stories, the hero-as-Faust stories--that appear to be the maybe-basis for the upcoming Spider-story.)
As for why they're doing this (if indeed they are)... Maybe I've been lucky. I've never thought of marriage as work--I've found that if you like your spouse and you both genuinely care about what's best for each other, it's pretty easy to be married. In fact, before the kids came along, there really wasn't a lot of difference (other than living in the same house) between how my husband and I were as a dating couple and how we were as a married couple. So my impression is that the only real stories you can't tell about a married Peter that you could tell about a single Peter are pretty much the ones that involved his relationships with other women. Is that really that important?
Monday, December 03, 2007
Thoughts on Moon Knight's Frenchie
While surfing the net I came across this article on gay comic characters, a topic I don't have a lot of expertise on. However, the two main books cited in the piece (Moon Knight and Young Avengers) are favorites of mine.
I'm not going to address the article as a whole. What I did want to say, though, is that I think there was a narrative purpose to portraying Frenchie as gay in the current Moon Knight title. I don't know whether any mention was made of his sexuality in the original series (I still haven't read that Essentials volume :))--whether he had a girlfriend, or went on dates with women*--so I don't know whether the portrayal conflicts with any earlier representation. But I think the purpose was to illustrate how dysfunctional Mark's relationships were and how little he knew about his friends and colleagues beyond what had to do with him, personally.
Remember the scene with Marlene, where he tries to convince her that she should come back to him because it was what he wanted? And was annoyed that that wasn't enough for her? He literally could not understand the difference between what he felt for her and what he wanted from her. BTW, Mark is exactly the kind of boyfriend you'd tell your friends to run away screaming from, isn't he? :)
Mark had known Frenchie for years, and the subject had never come up. I don't think Mark cared about Frenchie's sexuality in either sense--he didn't really mind it (other than being a bit offended at first that Frenchie had never told him directly), but he really didn't care about it in the same sense that he really didn't care about anything else to do with Frenchie if it didn't concern him directly. It was a way to underscore Mark's essential self-centeredness. It could have been done by means of something other than Frenchie being gay, but it would have had to have been some other significant personal fact that Mark was unaware of--something that most friends who had known each other that well for that long would have known--to have had the same impact.
* I do understand that there is reason to object when a hero or other character who was historically presented in one way is taken into the modern era and presented in another way. But people do change over time--there are plenty of men and women in the real world who don't realize their sexuality until they're in their 30s or 40s or beyond. I don't get the impression that that was intended to be the case with Frenchie, just saying that such a change is surely within the realm of reality.
I'm not going to address the article as a whole. What I did want to say, though, is that I think there was a narrative purpose to portraying Frenchie as gay in the current Moon Knight title. I don't know whether any mention was made of his sexuality in the original series (I still haven't read that Essentials volume :))--whether he had a girlfriend, or went on dates with women*--so I don't know whether the portrayal conflicts with any earlier representation. But I think the purpose was to illustrate how dysfunctional Mark's relationships were and how little he knew about his friends and colleagues beyond what had to do with him, personally.
Remember the scene with Marlene, where he tries to convince her that she should come back to him because it was what he wanted? And was annoyed that that wasn't enough for her? He literally could not understand the difference between what he felt for her and what he wanted from her. BTW, Mark is exactly the kind of boyfriend you'd tell your friends to run away screaming from, isn't he? :)
Mark had known Frenchie for years, and the subject had never come up. I don't think Mark cared about Frenchie's sexuality in either sense--he didn't really mind it (other than being a bit offended at first that Frenchie had never told him directly), but he really didn't care about it in the same sense that he really didn't care about anything else to do with Frenchie if it didn't concern him directly. It was a way to underscore Mark's essential self-centeredness. It could have been done by means of something other than Frenchie being gay, but it would have had to have been some other significant personal fact that Mark was unaware of--something that most friends who had known each other that well for that long would have known--to have had the same impact.
* I do understand that there is reason to object when a hero or other character who was historically presented in one way is taken into the modern era and presented in another way. But people do change over time--there are plenty of men and women in the real world who don't realize their sexuality until they're in their 30s or 40s or beyond. I don't get the impression that that was intended to be the case with Frenchie, just saying that such a change is surely within the realm of reality.
Sunday, December 02, 2007
The latest google-isms
A busy weekend means time to look over the latest from Statcounter. :)
carol danvers feminist
ms marvel at modok's feet
I'm guessing that these two did not come from the same individual.
spanked boy comic
Now, that's more like it! :)
spraypainting naked
I do not think I was what this person was looking for.
the loves of tony stark
You know, I would buy that book--a history of Tony Stark's love life could be a lot of fun.
fangirl symptoms
No comment.
"mary marvel" feminist
Um, no?
deadpool comics hilarious
Yes, they are!
speed wiccan
I would also buy that comic. :)
carol danvers feminist
ms marvel at modok's feet
I'm guessing that these two did not come from the same individual.
spanked boy comic
Now, that's more like it! :)
spraypainting naked
I do not think I was what this person was looking for.
the loves of tony stark
You know, I would buy that book--a history of Tony Stark's love life could be a lot of fun.
fangirl symptoms
No comment.
"mary marvel" feminist
Um, no?
deadpool comics hilarious
Yes, they are!
speed wiccan
I would also buy that comic. :)
Saturday, December 01, 2007
Fiction and the fan
I don't read fan fiction. Not for comics, not for movies, not for television. I think it's fine that people write it, and I certainly have no objection to folks building personally on an existing cultural mythology in that way, but for me, if it's not explicitly "canon"--in the sense that anyone who read/viewed the original material would know it--it doesn't appeal to me. (Hell, I don't even like the Ultimate universe, and historically I dislike DC's Elseworlds, although I suppose I might change my mind on that given their shiny new Multiverse.)
It has nothing to do with quality. I've read fan fiction, generally at someone else's request ("hey, I just wrote this, would you take a look?"), and some of it is very good, has plotting and characterization the equal of what you'd find in a comic you bought or a television show you watched. That's not the point.
Of course there is some execrable fan fiction as well, and while comics and movies and television can be execrable as well, when fan fiction is bad, it is often bad in its own particular ways, ways that point to the fact that this sort of fan fiction really isn't about the story--it's about authorial fantasy fulfillment. For example, characters act oddly or are put into situations clearly aimed at getting them to do something out of character. And that's fine. I won't be reading it ('course I won't be reading the good stuff either :)) but it's fine--plenty of people love it, to each their own, live and let live, right?
Occasionally, though, you read or view something that makes you wonder whether the writer is also a fan. One assumes, of course, that many comic writers are also fans--why would you seek employment in that field unless you had some sort of appreciation for at least the general medium? But one also assumes that if someone is getting paid to write a story, they are writing it for others, not in order to bring their own personal fan sense to paper (or film, or video), or to cater to particular fan preferences they may be aware of without regard for existing history or characterization, and with a certain amount of objectivity with regard to the story working.
And I'm not going to point to any specific instances within comics because I'm not writing this where my comics are, so I don't have them available to cite. (I will say that I've been watching Torchwood lately, and I like it a lot overall, but occasionally they'll have a moment where I wonder just who that bit was written for.) But that thing you see sometimes, where someone comments positively on some bit from a comic, saying that the writer must surely have been reading the internet--that's not a good thing. We don't like it when a comic writer does their darnedest to bring things back in line with whatever comic era they grew up with or eliminates a character based on personal dislike, we don't like it when a comic clearly caters to a particular subgroup of fans to the detriment of the story, and we shouldn't like it when our own preferences are given too much weight either.
It has nothing to do with quality. I've read fan fiction, generally at someone else's request ("hey, I just wrote this, would you take a look?"), and some of it is very good, has plotting and characterization the equal of what you'd find in a comic you bought or a television show you watched. That's not the point.
Of course there is some execrable fan fiction as well, and while comics and movies and television can be execrable as well, when fan fiction is bad, it is often bad in its own particular ways, ways that point to the fact that this sort of fan fiction really isn't about the story--it's about authorial fantasy fulfillment. For example, characters act oddly or are put into situations clearly aimed at getting them to do something out of character. And that's fine. I won't be reading it ('course I won't be reading the good stuff either :)) but it's fine--plenty of people love it, to each their own, live and let live, right?
Occasionally, though, you read or view something that makes you wonder whether the writer is also a fan. One assumes, of course, that many comic writers are also fans--why would you seek employment in that field unless you had some sort of appreciation for at least the general medium? But one also assumes that if someone is getting paid to write a story, they are writing it for others, not in order to bring their own personal fan sense to paper (or film, or video), or to cater to particular fan preferences they may be aware of without regard for existing history or characterization, and with a certain amount of objectivity with regard to the story working.
And I'm not going to point to any specific instances within comics because I'm not writing this where my comics are, so I don't have them available to cite. (I will say that I've been watching Torchwood lately, and I like it a lot overall, but occasionally they'll have a moment where I wonder just who that bit was written for.) But that thing you see sometimes, where someone comments positively on some bit from a comic, saying that the writer must surely have been reading the internet--that's not a good thing. We don't like it when a comic writer does their darnedest to bring things back in line with whatever comic era they grew up with or eliminates a character based on personal dislike, we don't like it when a comic clearly caters to a particular subgroup of fans to the detriment of the story, and we shouldn't like it when our own preferences are given too much weight either.
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